Sugarcane farmers await announcement of minimum support price

KATHMANDU, Jan 24 : Though the government has prioritized agriculture sector in its fiscal policies and periodic plans, sugarcane farmers are yet to get any benefits from such plans and policies.

Many farmers in Tarai districts have started sugarcane farming in recent year hoping to get better returns compared to traditional food crops. But delay in release of payment by sugar mills has dampened their hopes. As a result, many farmers are clearing sugarcane fields and reverting to traditional farming of food crops.

Sugarcane farmers across the country are worried that their crop will dry up in the field as sugar mills are not offering good price. They are using middlemen to force farmers to sell sugarcane at low price.

During to rise in sugar production last year, state-owned enterprises had purchased sugar from domestic sugar mills during Dashain and Tihar changing the trend of importing from India.

Though the government had directed the Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Agricultural Development on December 15 to set minimum support price of sugarcane within 15 days, the ministries have not been able to set the price yet. Sugarcane crushing began from November-end itself.

Source: Republica